Mount Abraham Music Department’s 2008 Winter Concert by Yuki D.

On December 16, Mount Abraham Union High School’s Music Department had their annual Winter Concert.

The High School Concert Band, Sweet Transition, High School Jazz Ensemble, and High School Performing Chorus all performed winter themed songs for the surrounding community.

Members of the Music Department decorated the lobby and stage beautifully, with tinsel, twinkle lights, poinsettias, snowflakes, and spray painted stars.

First to perform was the Concert Band. To start their program, they played a season-appropriate, upbeat song, “Winter Holiday.” They then proceeded to play a slow song, “Abide with Me” and a moving, grand piece, “Choral and Shaker Dance II.”

Next was the a cappela group, Sweet Transition. All members were whimsically dressed, with Santa hats, tutus, matching scarves, and ski goggles.

The first song they performed was the “Carol of the Bells,” a typically Christmas-time song. Next, the group sang, “And So It Goes,” by Billy Joel, with solos by Gloria Kamencik and Ryan Conant. Then, they sang, “Everything” by Michael Buble. Choral teacher, Megan LaRose, and junior Shanna Gebo arranged this song, and it featured wonderful solos by Maren Granstrom and Jon Martin, acting in love. Sweet Transitions last song of the evening was “Can Can” from the Overture to Orpheus in the Underworld. This was a very fun piece with lively choreography by Mt. Abe alumna Christi Kroll, including fake bass plucking and a kick-line.
Third in the program was the Jazz Ensemble. Instrumental music teacher, Matt Tatro, introduced them, saying that they had worked on a variety of music which requires a lot of effort and skill.

The first song they played was a mellow piece, “A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square.” This featured a solo by Dan Thompson on the trombone. Following that, the vocalist, Hannah Miller, came up to perform “Stormy Weather.” Next was “Moanin,’” a contemporary jazz piece featuring intentional chaos and an overall intense atmosphere. Teacher Matt Tatro on the baritone saxophone and Toby Salas on tenor saxophone were both featured with solos. The piece was very well done, and the audience thoroughly excited. For the final piece, “Orange Colored Sky,” Hannah Miller sang again, portraying her bright self in an upbeat song.

The last to perform was the Performing Chorus. They began their first song, “Winds of Change,” by singing in a round while walking up the rows and onto the stage. Next was “The Sleigh (A la Rousse),” a cheerful and lively song. Then, they performed “Longer,” a piece from the seventies. When they started to learn this song, tons of stories came back from parents, saying that “Longer” was their wedding song. Megan LaRose dedicated the piece to those in love. The piece started with solos from Morgan Doane and Nathan L'Heureux. For their fourth piece, the chorus performed Mozart’s “Lacrymosa (from the Requiem).” This was a beautiful piece, featuring sophomore Ellen Vitercik on the violin. The final piece of the night was the famous “Hallelujah Chorus (from the Messiah).” Any alumni in the audience were welcomed up to the stage, most of which were highly involved in the music department.

It was an enjoyable concert, and each of the four ensembles played wonderfully. This was a practice performance for a competition the department is going to in April in Annapolis, Maryland. There they will be able to work on something that will provide to the larger community.

The next concert for the department is the Pops Concert, a themed concert featuring snacks and a silent auction. This will be happening on March 12th.